New GIS Tools - Build Custom Queries and Set Spatial Filters

Get better search results with queries and filters


Last month a new search tool became available to users of the Online Survey Research GIS.  The new tool allows users to build custom queries and set spatial filters. Watch the video and read the post to maximize the GIS and get better search results.

GIS access: http://maps.smcgov.org/GE_4_4_0_Html5Viewer_2_5_0_public/?viewer=raster

Dense polygon clusters:
Set a spatial filter when the screen is crowded with polygons. This will display small symbols to click rather than the polygons which can be clumsy when they're in a dense cluster.

Before filter:

Multiple polygons make selecting a single map difficult

After filter:

Smaller symbols help with selecting a single map in a crowded screen

Overlapping polygons:
Areas that have been surveyed more than once will sometimes cause polygons to hide other polygons. Setting filters will reveal all maps in the area with different symbols that still have all of the attributes of the polygons.

Before filter:

On two areas of this screen a corner record polygon is being hidden by a larger corner record polygon.

After filter:

Setting a filter will reveal all maps and display a different symbol to click and retrieve the map.

Faster searches in rural areas and higher zoom:
Map polygons are only displayed when the GIS reaches a zoom level of 1" = 600' which is acceptable for most conditions.  When searching large areas (higher than 1" = 600') a filter will display maps by symbol rather than polygon.

Before filter:

No results for Records of Survey at 1 inch = 0.5 mile

After filter:

All Records of Survey shown; click each symbol to download the map.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel or this blog to be kept in the loop with changes.

Email pw-surveying@smcgov.org  with questions or for more details

2016 Road Projects and Monument Preservation

San Mateo County Public Works has just begun our busy time of the year for road projects. For the Surveying group this mean we've just completed our pre-construction monument preservation tasks.  2016 marks our second full construction cycle of employing some new procedures and technology for monument preservation.

The sections of proposed road work and survey monuments in the same GIS is an excellent tool for analysis and planning.

The procedure:
The Surveying group obtains the locations of road projects from the Engineering group and adds them to a web based GIS map. The GIS map now serves as a mobile map the Survey group can access in the field from any mobile device. Any monument we encounter within the proposed road project area is surveyed and the monument is added to the same GIS map.  This provides an excellent tool for analysis and planning of our monument preservation activities.

A proposed slurry seal project in El Granada and the details of a survey monument along with a photo in the GIS map.  This is an internal and external tool for everyone working on the project.

The technology:
Our team did an evaluation of best procedures for sharing monument location and descriptions.  We compared the previous method of paper maps and how stakeholders accessed them to a online GIS and well...GIS is superior in every way imaginable.  For the surveyors reading this, we still file the necessary corner records and records of survey.  This GIS is aimed at creating an easy to access system for the public, pavement and utility contractors, and any government entity that works in the roads or issues permits for road work.

GIS data collection In addition to traditional total station and GPS data collection, our team is using ArcGIS Collector to populate an ArcGIS Online web map.  ArcGIS Collector runs on any smartphone or tablet and we wrote a detailed post in October 2015 about how we collect the data.

ArcGIS Collector for smartphones

Sharing the data
As we mentioned earlier, previous monument preservation processes logged the data in paper format which was difficult for other groups to access even when scanned and shared electronically.  Often when these paper maps or scans were accessed, non-surveyor/engineer personnel struggled to interpret the location and description of the monuments and whether a proposed project would affect the monuments. This generated a bottleneck in the data flow that we were able to clear with ArcGIS Online.  ArcGIS Online allows anyone with an internet connected PC, phone, or tablet to see the monument locations in a GIS environment that can be customized to the users liking.

Users can customize the basemap of the GIS to their liking.

Users can see photographs of each monument and the description the field crew added.  The sample below is a disk in concrete 0.10 feet from the edge of the AC paving.  A total road reconstruction project would endanger this monument where a slurry seal project wouldn't.  The photo and description are key components to our analysis of monument preservation efforts needed per project.

Want to check out the Survey Marker GIS?

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iPhone and iPad User Tips

On June 24th, San Mateo County's online map research GIS migrated to a new interface with a new URL. Access the new site here or paste the following URL into your browser:

http://maps.smcgov.org/GE_4_4_0_Html5Viewer_2_5_0_public/?viewer=raster

The video below highlights the iOS device access that the previous GIS didn't have and provides a couple of important tips for iPhone and iPad users.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel or this blog to be kept in the loop with changes.

Online Survey Research - New URL and Enhancements

On June 24th, San Mateo County's online map research GIS migrated to a new interface with a new URL. Access the new site here or paste the following URL into your browser:

http://maps.smcgov.org/GE_4_4_0_Html5Viewer_2_5_0_public/?viewer=raster

It is significantly different and we have put out some how-to videos to help with the transition.  We're certain more will follow but for now check out the playlist below.  Subscribe to our YouTube channel or this blog to be kept in the loop with changes.

Email pw-surveying@smcgov.org  with questions or for more details

How to turn layers on/off to see map extents.  How to view / download.

How to search by book and page. How to view / download.

Change the basemap of the research GIS

Survey Markers GIS - Montara Vicinity

The survey marker inventory for the Montara vicinity is nearly complete.  Surveyors and engineers planning work in the vicinity can access our GIS to check for nearby survey monuments.

The GIS can be found here or through our Surveying and Map Checking website.

Our data collection team will continue to inventory areas of unincorporated San Mateo County.  Either download the mobile app or bookmark the GIS on your browser and check back for updates.

Read how you can add survey marker locations directly to this GIS with your smartphone!

San Mateo County Survey Marker GIS Part 3 - Data Collection

This post will outline how the data in the Survey Marker GIS is collected.

The GIS can be found here or through our Surveying and Map Checking website.

ArcGIS Collector
When it became necessary to inventory the survey monuments in San Mateo County, many data collection methods were evaluated.  We needed it to be cost effective, easy to perform, and the ability to crowd source was also important.

This is where ArcGIS Collector came into the picture.  ArcGIS Collector is a mobile app that can turn an Android or iOS device into a GIS grade data collector.  The data collected automatically appears on a web-based GIS that anyone can browse.

The way this GIS works is pretty simple.  Once the Collector app is installed on the smartphone or tablet simply login, launch the map, collect data.

That how simple it is.  There is additional functionality to the mobile app which we'll try to cover in a video or live training session.

Detailed Data Collection Screen Shots
A collection of screen shots in this Google folder demonstrate the data collection function.  Open the "info" pane to see notes that describe each screenshot.

Questions or Comments

Anyone wishing to participate in crowd sourcing this GIS is encouraged to email pw-surveying@smcgov.org.

Thanks for reading our 3 part post on the San Mateo County Survey Marker GIS!

San Mateo County Survey Marker GIS Part 2- Tools and Instructions

This post will highlight the maps main functions and provide tips for best use.

The GIS can be found here or through our Surveying and Map Checking website.

Bottom Toolbar
Listed below from left to right

Zoom buttons and 'My Location'

• + zooms in / - zooms out
• locator button shows your location (optimized for mobile users)

Text search

• type address or intersection; auto complete capable

Legend

Turn layers on/off

• check boxes to turn on/off available layers

Change basemap views

• choose from 12 different basemaps

Driving directions

• type or click on the locations for a route

Measuring tools

• measure lines and routes for linear feet
• measure areas
• obtain the lat / long for a location

Simple drawing tools

• enhance any map view by adding objects and text

Additional Tools

Overview map

• toggle on/off by clicking on the arrow in the top right of the map window

   

Data in Table Format

• launch a data table by clicking the small black arrow below toolbar

• drag the table up for an expanded view
• explore the 'Options' menu to hide columns, filter and export data

San Mateo County Survey Marker GIS Part 1- Purpose and Intended Use

This post explains the purpose and intended use of the San Mateo County (SMCO) survey marker GIS map and what kind of information can be found for monuments.

The GIS can be found here or through our Surveying and Map Checking website.

Default view of the SMCO Survey Marker GIS

Purpose & Intended Use

This is an ongoing inventory of survey monuments for the unincorporated areas of San Mateo County.  Some locations within City limits are available because we've chosen to crowd source some of the data.

It is meant to be a planning tool for San Mateo County Public Works projects as well as private surveys for firms wishing to participate.

It is not meant to be a precise network and is considered GIS grade.

Finding Survey Markers

This map acts much like any GIS when panning, zooming, and selecting objects.  Once you locate a point of interest, a single left click will open a window containing the unique data for that location.

Available Survey Marker Information

The minimum data we capture for each location include:

• Date collected
• Description
• Is it tagged?
• Tag number?

Additional notes can be added to further describe the survey marker or its location.

This GIS includes photos of the monuments as well and are found in the "Attachments" section of the window.

Typical data available and survey marker photo

Part Two: Tools and Instructions

San Mateo County - Unrecorded Subdivision Maps

This is a brief post to spread the word about a set of old subdivision maps that our team has recently encountered. These are maps that aren't available through our map research website but may be referenced in old deeds or maybe in the margins of the Assessors Parcel Maps (see image below). I'm positive this isn't every unrecorded subdivision map in San Mateo County but because we found them, we thought we'd share.

See the "UNREC" reference on the Assessors map in the lower right?

This is the Unrecorded Corbett Subdivision Map from Book 5

We had no idea what we were going to find on this mission so when we found so many (50 books in all) we just snapped pictures and assembled a collection of only the index pages. The information is available at our website and in spreadsheet format you can download.

Please pass this along to anyone that I left out. Feel free to email pw-surveying@smcgov.org if you've got questions or need more information about these maps. Thanks for reading.

San Mateo County 2015 Road Projects and Monument Preservation

This is the time of year that our in-house crew is tasked with monument preservation in connection with the 25+ miles of road resurfacing.  Not only do we need to stay ahead of the crews doing repairs before the asphalt is laid; we've got to document what we find!  It's is really an enjoyable challenge and we're proud to say we've done it again.

The areas shown in blue, red and lavender are the areas we covered this year.  We've covered Coast to Bay from approximately Moss Beach to the Santa Cruz County line.

Pescadero Creek Road (click for map)

Concrete monuments like this can be found at most begin / end curves all along Pescadero Creek Road.

USGS Disk in the bridge over Alpine Creek

Gazos Creek Road (click for map)

Fence post along Gazos Creek. The original rancho map calls for a 6" x 6" post scribed "PFC". This matches the location but fire has destroyed any scribing.

Verde Road (click for map)

Hex head bolt at Highway 1.  Every time we encounter a bolt for a monument I wonder if they used a wrench to install it!

The Alameda (click for map)

12" concrete monument with pin at Santa Ana Street

Acacia Lane (click for map)

Railroad spike near Alameda de las Pulgas.

It's a bit hard to see but whomever dug the trench skipped over the railroad spike...thank you!

And many many more...looking forward to the 2016 cycle!

Track Your Maps Status Online

Have you submitted a map and want to know its status?  Maybe your client wants to keep tabs on the status of their map.  Did you forget whether you submitted a particular map?

The answers to all of these questions are now available online and this post will walk you through the steps.

For this step by step, we'll use the permit number that our system has assigned to a Record of Survey.  This number can be found in the lower right corner of most plan checks performed by the Public Works Surveying and Map Checking group.  Don't have the number...don't worry, the system also lets you search by parcel number and address.

Let's get started by getting to the County's Planning and Building Online permit tracker (click to launch or use the following link): http://planning.smcgov.org/permit-center

On the screen shown above click "Active Permit / Project Center"

From the "Public Works" tab at the top, enter the permit number assigned to your map in the "Permit Number" field and click the "Search" button at the bottom.

The screen above will appear when a valid DPW permit number is entered showing some key information about that permit.  For more details click on the "Print/View Summary" button.

Enter the same DPW permit number in the "Case Number" field and click the "Submit" button.

This is a more detailed summary of the maps history.  Each time the status of the map changed, there will be a date and a description of what has changed.

The Survey and Map Checking group strives to keep the map status current but a one or two day lag is possible during our busy times.  We highly encourage you and your clients to use this when checking the status of a map.  If this system is down for an extended period of time, feel free to contact us (click for Survey and Map Checking Website).

Great Find in Pescadero

Have you ever been on your way to a survey and had the gut feeling that you're not going to find enough monuments to come up with a good boundary? We've been tasked with providing a map of North Street in Pescadero and after looking through decades old maps and field books from the 60's and 70's it felt like it was going to be tough one.

Could not have been more wrong!

Here is what I'm calling the find of the day.  An old wood hub that was found by LS 3138 to which he added a spike and made it much easier to get with the Schoenstatt metal detector...thank you!

A few of these near the intersection of Pescadero Creek Road:

As long as the animals don't charge us, we'll measure it:

Too bad it's pointed the wrong way but gives us the confidence our calculations are pretty good:

We'll even take just the shank of the nail:

Not much found on the surface but that doesn't stop us.

Here is probably the second best find of the day; an old nail in the centerline of Stage Road in the bridge over the creek.  The old records indicate one on each end but we only found the Southerly nail.

Many more here (Google Album) and a map will follow soon.